Shoes with water-resistant membranes and coating

ABSTRACT

A shoe may include an upper portion that includes one or more textile (e.g., wool) layers and one or more water-resistant membranes for providing or enhancing water resistance of the shoes. The water-resistant membranes may be positioned between the textile layers to provide or enhance water resistance without affecting the appearance and/or feel of the interior and exterior surfaces of the upper portion. The shoe may include a durable water repellent coating along at least a portion of an exterior surface for water resistance and durability. The shoes described herein may be constructed at least partially using bio-based materials.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a nonprovisional patent application of and claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/901,684, filedSep. 17, 2019 and titled “Shoes with Water-Resistant Membranes andCoating,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate to footwear, and in particular, toshoes having features as described herein.

BACKGROUND

Shoes are widely used for protecting and providing comfort to wearers'feet. Traditional shoes include an upper portion that is formed byattaching multiple separate components together. In some cases,traditional shoes formed of bio-based materials, such as wool, are notdesigned to repel water and other contaminants. In some cases,traditional shoes are constructed entirely from synthetic materials, theproduction and use of which may be harmful to the environment and mayprevent the shoes from being recycled.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments described herein generally relate to, include, ortake the form of a shoe comprising a sole and an upper portion. The soledefines a tread surface and a top surface opposite the tread surface.The upper portion is attached to the top surface of the sole andcomprises an outer textile layer comprising wool, an inner textile layercomprising wool, a first water-resistant membrane, and a secondwater-resistant membrane. The first water-resistant membrane ispositioned between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layerand extends from a lower perimeter of the upper portion to a firstboundary a first distance from the lower perimeter. The secondwater-resistant membrane is positioned between the outer textile layerand the inner textile layer and extends from the lower perimeter of theupper portion to a second boundary a second distance greater than thefirst distance from the lower perimeter.

Other embodiments described herein may relate to a shoe that includes anupper portion and a tongue. The upper portion defines a gap andcomprises a first membrane region and a second membrane region. Thefirst membrane region comprises a first water-resistant membranepositioned between an outer textile layer and an inner textile layer.The second membrane region comprises a second water-resistant membranepositioned between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer.The tongue comprises a third water-resistant membrane and is configuredto be positioned at least partially in the gap defined by the upperportion.

Still other embodiments described herein may relate to an upper portionfor a shoe comprising a first membrane region and a second membraneregion. The first membrane region comprises a first part of an outertextile layer, a first part of an inner textile layer, and a firstwater-resistant membrane comprising bio-based thermoplastic polyurethaneand positioned between the first part of the outer textile layer and thefirst part of the inner textile layer. The second membrane regioncomprises a second part of the outer textile layer, a second part of theinner textile layer, and a second water-resistant membrane comprisingbio-based thermoplastic polyurethane and positioned between the secondpart of the outer textile layer and the second part of the inner textilelayer. The outer textile layer is knit as a single, unitary piececomprising wool and at least a part of the first membrane regionoverlaps the second membrane region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to representative embodiments illustrated inthe accompanying figures. It should be understood that the followingdescriptions are not intended to limit this disclosure to one preferredembodiment. To the contrary, the disclosure provided herein is intendedto cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be includedwithin the spirit and scope of the described embodiments, and as definedby the appended claims.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example shoe having an upper portion thatincludes one or more water-resistant membranes;

FIG. 1B illustrates an example shoe having an upper portion thatincludes one or more water-resistant membranes;

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the example shoe of FIG. 1A showing locations ofmembrane regions of the upper portion;

FIG. 2D illustrates a cross-section of the example shoe of FIG. 1Ashowing water-resistant membranes positioned between textile layers ofthe upper portion, taken through section line A-A of FIG. 2B;

FIG. 2E illustrates a bottom view of the example shoe of FIG. 1A showingexample tread surfaces on the sole; and

FIG. 3 illustrates the example shoe of FIG. 1A.

The use of the same or similar reference numerals in different figuresindicates similar, related, or identical items.

Additionally, it should be understood that the proportions anddimensions (either relative or absolute) of the various features andelements (and collections and groupings thereof) and the boundaries,separations, and positional relationships presented therebetween, areprovided in the accompanying figures merely to facilitate anunderstanding of the various embodiments described herein and,accordingly, may not necessarily be presented or illustrated to scale,and are not intended to indicate any preference or requirement for anillustrated embodiment to the exclusion of embodiments described withreference thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood thatthe following description is not intended to limit the embodiments toone preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included withinthe spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by theclaims.

The shoes described herein include various features to improveperformance, increase manufacturing efficiency, and provideenvironmental benefits over traditional shoes. In some cases, a shoeincludes an upper portion that includes one or more textile (e.g., wool)layers and one or more water-resistant membranes for providing orenhancing water resistance of the shoes. The water-resistant membranesmay be positioned between the textile layers to provide or enhance waterresistance without affecting the appearance and/or feel of the interiorand exterior surfaces of the upper portion.

In some cases, the shoes described herein may be constructed at leastpartially using bio-based materials. As used herein, the term “bio-basedmaterials” may refer to materials made from substances derived at leastpartially from living or once-living organisms. The upper portion mayinclude a bio-based material. For example, the textile layers of theupper portion may include wool and the water-resistant membranes mayinclude bio-based plastic made using corn sugar. Additionally oralternatively, other components of the shoes may include bio-basedmaterials. For example, sole of the shoe may include a bio-based foammaterial made using sugarcane, the insole of the shoe may include abio-based foam material made using castor bean oil, and the eyelets andthe shoelace aglets of the shoe may include a bio-based plastic madeusing corn sugar. In some cases, the shoes described herein may beconstructed at least partially using recycled materials. For example, ashoelace of the shoe may be constructed at least partially from recycledplastic bottles.

In various embodiments, the bio-based and recycled materials used in theshoes described herein provide significant environmental benefits overtraditional shoes. Using bio-based materials as a substitute forsynthetic materials may result in fewer harmful emissions associatedwith manufacturing the shoe by reducing or eliminating processing ofharmful chemicals, such as the petroleum products used to manufacturemost synthetic fibers. Similarly, bio-based materials are moreecologically sustainable than many synthetic materials because they arederived from renewable resources (e.g., plant fibers, animal fibers,sugarcane, corn sugar) rather than nonrenewable resources (e.g.,petroleum products). The bio-based materials selected for use in theshoes may be certified by accreditation programs that ensuresustainability and animal welfare. For example, the wool used in thetextile layers of the upper portion may be ZQ certified. Similarly,using recycled materials instead of new materials reduces waste sent tolandfills and incinerators and conserves natural resources, preventspollution, and saves energy related to the collection and processing ofnew raw materials.

In addition to using bio-based and recycled materials, the shoesdescribed herein may include various features to make recycling theshoes easier. The shoe may have fewer components to separate from oneanother as part of the recycling process.

As noted above, in addition to the environmental benefits, the shoesdescribed herein may have improved performance over traditional shoes.In various embodiments, the water-resistant membranes of the shoe mayprovide enhanced water resistance while maintaining the comfort of theshoe, including softness, breathability, and the ability of a wearer tocomfortably wear the shoe with or without socks.

One or more water-resistant membranes may line at least a portion of theupper portion to provide water resistance. One or more water-resistantmembranes may form intermediate layers of the upper portion (e.g.,layers that are positioned between two or more layers). For example, oneor more water-resistant membranes may be positioned between textilelayers of the upper portion. A water-resistant membrane may form a layerof the upper portion and extend across an entirety of the upper portion,or the water-resistant membrane may form a layer of the upper portion inone or more “membrane regions” of the upper portion and not be presentin other regions of the upper portion. A water-resistant membrane mayextend around an entirety or a substantial entirety of the upperportion. The membrane regions may extend around the shoe from a lowerperimeter of the upper portion to a boundary that extends around theshoe. In some cases, the shoe includes two overlapping membrane regions,including a first membrane region that extends to a first boundary and asecond membrane region that extends to a second boundary farther fromthe lower perimeter than the first boundary.

As noted above, the water-resistant membrane may form some or all of anintermediate layer of the upper portion. Additionally or alternatively,the water-resistant membrane may form some or all of an innermost layerof the upper portion (e.g., a layer that is the closest layer to awearer's foot and/or forms an interior surface of the upper portion) oran outermost layer of the upper portion (e.g., a layer that forms anexterior surface of the upper portion). In some cases, a water-resistantmembrane may extend across multiple components of the shoe. Awater-resistant membrane may extend along a surface of, or within, theupper portion and also extend along a surface of, or within, anothercomponent of the shoe, such as the outsole, the strobel, the tongue, orthe like. For example, a water-resistant membrane may be positionedalong a seam between the upper portion of the shoe and the outsole ofthe shoe to prevent water and other contaminants from entering theinterior of the shoe via the seam or surrounding areas. The membrane mayextend across a portion of the seam or may extend all the way around orsubstantially all the way around the shoe along the seam. In some cases,the water-resistant membrane may extend farther from the seam in a toesection of the shoe, for example to provide additional water resistancein the toe section.

In some cases, the shoe is designed to allow a wearer to wear the shoewithout socks. In various embodiments, the shoe may include features toimprove the performance of the shoe when worn without socks. The upperportion may improve the comfort of the shoe by reducing or eliminatingseams that may irritate wearers, especially when lacking socks. In somecases, the upper portion defines an interior surface of a cavity adaptedto receive a wearer's foot in addition to defining an exterior surfaceof the shoe.

As noted above, the upper portion may include one or more textilelayers. In some cases, an outer textile layer defines at least a portionof the exterior surface of the upper portion, and an inner textile layerdefines at least a portion of the interior surface of the upper portion.In some cases, the textile properties of the interior surface aredifferent than the textile properties of the exterior surface. Forexample, the interior surface may be brushed, flocked, or otherwise havedifferent textile properties to soften a tactile feel of the interiorsurface. In some cases, the interior surface may include one or moredifferent materials than the exterior surface. For example, the textilemay include different fiber types or fiber ratios at the interiorsurface and the exterior surface. The above-mentioned features mayprovide particular advantages to wearers wearing the shoes withoutsocks, because the wearer's foot may directly contact the upper portionwhile the shoes are worn.

In various embodiments, the upper portion is attached to a first side ofa sole that defines, on a second opposite side, a tread surface that isadapted to contact the ground or other surfaces while the shoe is worn.Additionally or alternatively, the sole may include one or more tractionpads defining the tread surface and adapted to contact the ground orother surfaces while the shoe is worn. The sole may be attached to theupper portion, for example using an adhesive. The shoe may define acavity adapted to receive a wearer's foot. In some cases, an insole maybe positioned in the cavity. In some cases, the insole cooperates withthe upper portion to define the interior surface of the shoe.

As used herein, “textile” or “fabric” may refer to a flexible materialconsisting of a network of natural and/or artificial fibers (e.g., yarnor thread formed into a sheet) formed by any suitable process,including, but not limited to, weaving, knitting, spreading, crocheting,knotting, felting, bonding, braiding, and carpeting.

As used herein, “textile properties” may refer to properties that definethe dimensions and characteristics of a textile, including, but notlimited to, fiber properties (e.g., fiber type, size, and length), yarnproperties (e.g., yarn diameter, twist, weight, size, count, fibercontent or fiber ratio, ply, and strand count in plied yarn), weight,thickness, fabric structure, fabric density, weave properties (e.g.,weave type, warp and filling yarn count), knit properties (e.g., knittype, wale and course count), finishes or coatings (e.g., chemicals,resins, starches, and waxes), and mechanical effects (e.g., calendaring,napping, flocking, and brushing).

As used herein, “textile characteristics” may refer to measures of thetextile's performance, including, but not limited to, stiffness (e.g.,resistance to stretching or bending), flexibility (e.g., reducedstiffness), breathability (e.g., air permeability), water resistance,moisture wicking, odor resistance, durability characteristics, visualcharacteristics (e.g., textile appearance), and tactile characteristics(e.g., textile feel). As used herein, “water resistance” may refer tothe ability of the shoe to prevent or reduce the entry of water, otherliquids, or other contaminants into the cavity of the shoe and/or intoother parts of the shoe. As used herein, “durability” may refer to theability of materials (e.g., a textile) or objects (e.g., a shoe) toresist wear, deformation, and/or damage and/or to maintain its textileproperties, structure, visual characteristics, and/or tactilecharacteristics. As used herein, “durability characteristics” may referto measures of a textile's durability, including, but not limited to,abrasive strength (e.g., resistance to abrasion), bursting strength(e.g., ability to withstand forces applied at right angles to the planeof the fabric), and tensile strength (e.g., ability to withstand forcesapplied along the plane of the fabric).

FIG. 1A illustrates an example shoe 100 a having an upper portion 110 athat includes one or more water-resistant membranes. The upper portion110 a may define a shape or structure of the shoe 100 a, and may beadapted to contain, comfort, and/or protect a foot of a wearer wearingthe shoe 100 a. As described above, the shoe 100 a may include an upperportion 110 a that includes one or more textile layers and one or moreregions with water-resistant membranes.

As noted above, the water-resistant membranes may be positioned betweenan outer textile layer that defines at least a portion of the exteriorsurface of the upper portion 110 a and an inner textile layer thatdefines at least a portion of the interior surface of the upper portion110 a. Additionally or alternatively, the upper portion 110 a mayinclude one or more coatings for water resistance. In some cases, thecoating is a durable water repellent (DWR) coating that is disposed onone or more layers of the upper portion 110 a. In some case, the DWRcoating is disposed on only one surface (e.g., an exterior surface) of alayer (e.g., an outer textile layer). Applying the coating to only onesurface may allow the upper portion to wick moisture via the non-coatedsurface to improve breathability and comfort of the shoe. The DWRcoating may be any suitable type of coating, including, fluoropolymers,acrylic acid/stearyl acrylate copolymers, and the like. In someembodiments, the coating may lack C8 fluoropolymers and/orperfluorooctanoic acid.

The coating(s) and/or water-resistant membrane(s) may improve the waterresistance of the shoe 100 a, for example by preventing or reducingwater, other liquids, and other contaminants from entering the interiorof the shoe through the upper portion. The coating(s) and/orwater-resistant membrane(s) may improve the durability of the shoe 100a. For example, the coating(s) may improve durability characteristics ofthe shoe 100 a, such as abrasive strength, reduce staining, and thelike. Positioning the water-resistant membrane(s) between textile layersmay improve durability of the shoe 100 a by protecting thewater-resistant membrane(s) from damage from a wearer's foot and/orobjects or substances outside the shoe 100 a.

Additionally or alternatively, the coating(s) and/or water-resistantmembrane(s) may improve the comfort of the shoe 100 a, for example byproviding water resistance while maintaining softness, breathability,and the ability of a wearer to comfortably wear the shoe with or withoutsocks. The water-resistant membrane(s) may provide structural support tothe shoe by increasing a stiffness of the upper portion 110 a.Positioning the water-resistant membrane(s) between textile layers mayimprove the comfort of the shoe 100 a by removing seams along theinterior surface that may irritate a wearer.

The upper portion 110 a may define a first part of an exterior surfaceof the shoe, and a sole 120 a may define a second part of the exteriorsurface of the shoe. The upper portion 110 a may cooperate with one ormore additional shoe components to define a cavity 160 a for receiving awearer's foot (not shown in FIG. 1A). Additionally, the upper portion110 a may define a first part of an interior surface of the shoe 100 a.As noted above, the upper portion 110 a may include one or more layers.In some cases, an outer layer of the upper portion 110 a defines atleast a portion of the exterior surface of the upper portion, and aninner layer of the upper portion defines at least a portion of theinterior surface of the upper portion. In some cases, textilecharacteristics may vary between the interior surface and the exteriorsurface to achieve desired shoe performance. Additionally, textilecharacteristics and materials may vary at different locations on theinterior surface.

As noted above, the upper portion 110 a may include one or more textilelayers, such as wool layers. In various embodiments, the textile that isused to form the textile layers of the upper portion 110 a may beconstructed by any suitable process, including, but not limited to,weaving, knitting, spreading, crocheting, knotting, felting, bonding,braiding, and carpeting. In some cases, a first layer may have firsttextile properties and a second layer may have second textileproperties. In some cases, multiple layers are formed together as partof a construction process. The first and second layers may be interlacedwith one another. For example, the structure of the first layer may beinterlaced with the structure of the second layer.

The textile layers may be formed of any suitable material or combinationof materials. For example, a woven or knit textile may be formed usingone or more types of yarn. The yarn may be formed using one or morenatural or synthetic fibers twisted or otherwise bound together. Examplefibers include cellulose fibers (e.g., eucalyptus fiber, bamboo fiber,rayon, and modal), wool, cotton, silk, polyester, nylon, and the like.In some cases, the yarn is formed using a blend of two or more fibers.For example, the yarn may be a blend of wool, nylon, and elastane (e.g.,SPANDEX). In some cases, the yarn is a plied yarn that includes multiplestrands of yarn twisted or braided together.

The shoe 100 a may include a tongue 130 a that covers or conforms to thetop of the wearer's foot. The tongue 130 a and the upper portion 110 amay cooperate to retain a wearer's foot in the cavity 160 a. In somecases, the tongue 130 a is adapted to be positioned between a shoelace150 a and the wearer's foot. In some cases, the tongue 130 a and theupper portion 110 a cooperate to define an opening 170 a into the cavity160 a.

In various embodiments, the tongue 130 a may be connected to (e.g.,integrally formed with or attached to) the upper portion 110 a. In somecases, the tongue 130 a is integrally formed with the upper portion 110a (e.g., formed from the same textile layer(s) as the upper portion). Inother cases, the tongue is a separate component that is attached to theupper portion, for example by stitching, adhesives, or the like. Thetongue 130 a may be formed using the same or similar materials andprocesses as discussed above with respect to the upper portion 110 a.The tongue 130 a may include textile layers and/or water-resistantmembranes similar to the upper portion 110 a.

In some cases, the shoe 100 a includes eyelets 140 a and shoelaces 150 apassing through they eyelets. Together they may retain the shoe 100 a tothe wearer's foot, for example by tightening the shoe 100 a around thewearer's foot. The eyelets 140 a and the shoelaces 150 a are discussedbelow in more detail with respect to FIGS. 2A-2B.

The shoe 100 a may also include a sole 120 a that defines a treadsurface that is adapted to contact the ground or other surfaces whilethe shoe is worn. The sole 120 a may be attached to the upper portion110 a, for example using an adhesive. The sole 120 a is discussed inmore detail below with respect to FIGS. 2C and 2D.

In various embodiments, the shoe 100 a may be assembled by attaching theeyelets 140 a and (optionally) the tongue 130 a to the upper portion 110a and attaching the upper portion 110 a to the sole 120 a using anadhesive or other fastening method. An insole may be inserted into thecavity 160 a, and the laces 150 a may be threaded through the eyelets140 a.

The shoe of FIG. 1A is configured as a low-top shoe, but the embodimentsdescribed herein are meant to encompass other types of shoes as well.FIG. 1B illustrates an example shoe 100 b having an upper portion 110 bthat includes one or more water-resistant membranes. The shoe 100 b isconfigured as a mid-top or high-top shoe, and includes the same orsimilar structure and functionality as described with respect to theshoe 100 a, including an upper portion 110 b, a sole 120 b, a tongue 130b, eyelets 140 b, and laces 150 b.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the example shoe 100 a of FIG. 1A showinglocations of membrane regions of the upper portion 110 a. As shown inFIGS. 2A-2C, the shoe 100 a may define a first membrane region 210 athat extends around the shoe from a lower perimeter 214 of the upperportion 110 a to a first boundary 212 a that extends around the shoe.Additionally or alternatively, the shoe 100 a may define a secondmembrane region 210 b that extends around the shoe from the lowerperimeter 214 of the upper portion 110 a to a second boundary 212 b thatextends around the shoe. In various embodiments, membrane regions mayoverlap with one another. Water-resistant membranes positioned betweenthe textile layers of the upper portion 110 a may enhance or providewater resistance of the shoe 100 a.

In some cases, as shown in FIG. 2A, each boundary of the first and/orsecond membrane regions 210 a, 210 b may be selected to be asubstantially constant distance from the ground (or other surface)around an entirety of the shoe when the shoe is placed on the ground (orother surface). For example, for the second membrane region 210 b, thesubstantially constant distance may be approximately equal to a distancebetween a lowermost eyelet 140 a of the shoe and the ground (or othersurface) when the shoe is placed on the ground (or other surface).

One or more water-resistant membranes in the first membrane region 210 amay provide additional water resistance along a seam 222 between theupper portion 110 a and the sole 120 a, thereby reducing water ingressat the seam. In some cases, as shown and described with respect to FIG.2C below, the sole 120 a may overlap part of the upper portion 110 a,such that the lower perimeter of the upper portion is beneath part ofthe sole 120 a. The sole 120 a and the upper portion 110 a may meet at aseam 222. The first membrane region 210 a may extend around the upperportion 110 a and be positioned beneath the seam.

One or more textile layers or water-resistant membranes of the upperportion 110 a may be knit or otherwise formed as a single, unitarypiece, in which an entire top surface is defined by a single piece andan entire bottom surface is defined by a single piece. As a result, theone or more textile layers or water-resistant membranes do not havemultiple adjacent sections with seams therebetween. In various cases, atextile layer or water-resistant membrane may be attached to itselfand/or another layer of the upper portion 110 a using a seam, forexample to define a structure of the upper portion 110 a. For example,as shown in FIG. 2C, the textile layers and water-resistant membranes ofthe upper portion 110 a may be attached at a seam 280. The textilelayers and water-resistant membranes may be attached at the seam usingany suitable fastening technique, including adhesives, stitching,bonding, and the like.

As discussed above, the upper portion 110 a may include a coating forenhancing the water resistance of the shoe 100 a. The coating(s) and/orwater-resistant membrane(s) may improve the water resistance of the shoe100 a, for example by preventing or reducing water, other liquids, andother contaminants from entering the interior of the shoe through theupper portion. The coating(s) and/or water-resistant membrane(s) mayimprove the durability of the shoe 100 a. For example, the coating(s)may improve durability characteristics of the shoe 100 a, such asabrasive strength, reduce staining, and the like. Positioning thewater-resistant membrane(s) between textile layers may improvedurability of the shoe 100 a by protecting the water-resistantmembrane(s) from damage from a wearer's foot and/or objects orsubstances outside the shoe 100 a.

Additionally or alternatively, the coating(s) and/or water-resistantmembrane(s) may improve the comfort of the shoe 100 a, for example byproviding water resistance while maintaining softness, breathability,and the ability of a wearer to comfortably wear the shoe with or withoutsocks. The water-resistant membrane(s) may provide structural support tothe shoe by increasing a stiffness of the upper portion 110 a.Positioning the water-resistant membrane(s) between textile layers mayimprove the comfort of the shoe 100 by removing seams along the interiorsurface that may irritate a wearer.

FIG. 2D illustrates a cross-section of the example shoe 100 a showingwater-resistant membranes 230 a, 230 b positioned between textile layers240 a, 240 b of the upper portion 110 a, taken through section line A-Aof FIG. 2B. As noted above, in some cases, the textile that forms theupper portion 110 a includes multiple textile layers. In some cases, theupper portion 110 a includes an outer textile layer 240 a and an innertextile layer 240 b. The outer textile layer 240 a may form an exteriorsurface 250 of the upper portion 110 a, and the inner textile layer 240b may form an interior surface 252 of the upper portion 110. In somecases, both the outer textile layer 240 a and the inner textile layer240 b may extend along the entire upper portion 110 a. This may simplifymanufacturing and/or improve comfort by reducing the number of seams inthe upper portion 110 a.

In various embodiments, the water-resistant membranes 230 a, 230 b maybe positioned between the outer textile layer 240 a and the innertextile layer 240 b. The water-resistant membranes 230 a, 230 b mayenhance or provide water resistance of the shoe 100 a, for example bypreventing or reducing the ingress of water, other liquids, or othercontaminants through the textile layers 240 a, 240 b of the upperportion 110 a of the shoe.

The water-resistant membrane 230 a may be positioned in the firstmembrane region 210 a, and the water-resistant membrane 230 b may bepositioned in the second membrane region 210 b shown in FIGS. 2A-2Cabove. The water-resistant membrane 230 a may extend from a location ator near the lower perimeter 214 of the upper portion 110 a to theboundary 212 a. The water-resistant membrane 230 b may extend from alocation at or near the lower perimeter 214 of the upper portion 110 ato the boundary 212 b (not shown in FIG. 2D).

As noted above, the first membrane region 210 a may provide waterresistance along the seam 222 between the upper portion 110 a and thesole 120 a. As shown in FIG. 2D, the sole 120 a may overlap part of theupper portion 110 a, such that the lower perimeter of the upper portionis beneath part of the sole 120 a. The sole 120 a and the upper portion110 a may meet at the seam 222. The first membrane region 210 a mayextend around the upper portion 110 a and be positioned at leastpartially beneath the seam 222.

The water-resistant membranes 230 a and/or 230 b may be formed of anysuitable material or combination of materials, including polyamides,polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane (e.g., thermoplasticpolyurethane), ethyl vinyl acetate, and polyols. In some cases, thewater-resistant membranes 230 a and/or 230 b are formed at leastpartially from a bio-based material, such as corn sugar. Thewater-resistant membranes 230 a and 230 b include a bio-basedthermoplastic polyurethane. The material(s) used to form thewater-resistant membranes 230 a, 230 b may be breathable, such that theyprevent the ingress of water and other contaminants, but they allow theexchange of air. This may improve the comfort and performance of theshoe 100 a.

The thickness of the water-resistant membranes 230 a, 230 b may bedifferent, and/or may vary at different locations within the membraneregions. The water-resistant membrane 230 b may be thinner than thewater-resistant membrane 230 a to allow more flexibility and/orbreathability in the first membrane region, because the first membraneregion extends higher in the shoe. The water-resistant membrane 230 amay be thicker than the water-resistant membrane 230 b to provide addedwater resistance near the seam 222. In some cases, the water-resistantmembrane 230 a is between 2 and 5 times thicker than the water-resistantmembrane 230 b. For example, the water-resistant membrane 230 a have athickness between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, and the water-resistant membrane230 b may have a thickness between 0.05 and 0.15 mm.

The outer layer 240 a and/or inner layer 240 b may be a knit textilewith that includes a yarn with one or more man-made fibers and one ormore bio-based fibers. The outer layer 240 a and/or inner layer 240 bmay be formed of between 50% and 90% wool, between 1% and 50% nylon, andbetween 1% and 20% elastane (e.g., SPANDEX). The outer layer 240 aand/or inner layer 240 b may be between 60% and 70% wool, between 25%and 45% nylon, and between 2% and 10% elastane.

The upper portion 110 a may be attached to the sole 120 a using anadhesive or other fastening method. As shown in FIG. 2D, the shoe 100 amay include a strobel 282 that encloses the bottom of the upper portion110 a. In some cases, the strobel 282 may be attached to the upperportion 110 a at or near the lower perimeter 214 of the upper portion110 a. For example, a lower perimeter of the strobel 282 may be attachedto the lower perimeter 214 of the upper portion 110 a. In some cases,the layers 240 a, 240 b and/or the membranes 230 a, 230 b may wrap underthe strobel 282.

An adhesive 284 may be applied between a top surface of the sole 120 aand a bottom surface of the strobel 282 and/or a surface of the upperportion 110 a at or near a lower perimeter of the sole to attach thesole to the upper portion. In some cases the strobel 282 is omitted andthe upper portion 110 a is attached directly to the sole 120 a usingadhesive or another fastener. In some cases, the strobel 282 may be apart of the upper portion 110 a or the sole 120 a. Following attachmentof the upper portion 110 a to the sole 120 a, the insole 220 may beinserted into the cavity 160 a. As noted above, an upper surface of theinsole 220 may define a portion of the interior surface of the shoe 100a. An interior surface of the upper portion 110 a may define anadditional portion of the interior surface of the shoe 100 a.

The shoe 100 a described with respect to FIGS. 2A-2D includes twowater-resistant membranes 230 a and 230 b and two membrane regions 210 aand 210 b. However, the shoes described herein may include any number ofmembrane regions and water-resistant membranes. Additionally oralternatively, the locations of the membrane regions along the upperportion may be different than the examples shown in FIGS. 2A-2D.Similarly, the positions of the water-resistant membranes relative toother layers and/or other components of the shoe may be different invarious embodiments.

In some cases, the outer layer 240 a and the inner layer 240 b may havedifferent textile characteristics at corresponding locations on theupper portion 110 a. For example, a textile feel or abrasive strength ofthe outer later 240 a may differ from the inner layer 240 b. Thedifferent textile characteristics of the different surfaces may be aresult of different textile properties between the outer layer 240 a andthe inner layer 240 b, including yarn properties, knit properties,thickness, mechanical effects (e.g., brushing) and the like. In somecases, the outer layer 240 a and the inner layer 240 b may be otherwiseattached or affixed to one another, for example using adhesives.

In addition to the textile properties differing among different layers,the textile properties of each layer 240 a, 240 b may differ atdifferent locations of the upper portion 110 a. For example, the outerlayer 240 a may be thicker in a first region than the outer layer in asecond region, and the inner layer 240 b may be thicker in the firstregion than the inner layer in the second region. In some cases, textileproperties may vary in less than all of the layers. For example, onelayer may be thicker in a first region than in a second region, andanother layer may be a same thickness in the first region as in thesecond region.

As noted above, the shoe 100 a may define a cavity 160 a adapted toreceive a wearer's foot. In some cases, an insole 220 may be positionedin the cavity, and may define at least a portion of the interior surfaceof the shoe 100 a that surrounds the cavity 160 a. For example, theinsole 220 may define a foot bed configured to receive and contact abottom surface of a foot of the wearer. The insole 220 may be adapted tobe positioned between the wearer's foot and the sole 120 a to cushionthe wearer's foot during wear. The insole 220 may cooperate with theupper portion 110 a and one or more additional components of the shoe100 a to define the interior surface of the shoe 100 a.

The insole 220 may include a top surface 260 a defining a portion of theinterior surface of the shoe 100 a and a bottom portion that providescushioning to the wearer's foot. The top surface 260 a may be formed ofany suitable material or combination of materials, including wool,cotton, polyester, nylon, and the like. The bottom portion may be formedof any suitable material or combination of materials, includingpolyamides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane (e.g.,thermoplastic polyurethane), ethyl vinyl acetate, and polyols. In somecases, the bottom portion is formed at least partially from a bio-basedmaterial, such as castor bean oil. As noted above, using bio-basedmaterials may provide environmental benefits, including reducedemissions and ecological sustainability.

As noted above, the sole 120 a may define one or more tread surfacesthat are adapted to contact the ground or other surfaces while the shoeis worn. FIG. 2E illustrates a bottom view of the example shoe 100 ashowing example tread surfaces 272 a-c on the sole 120 a. As noted abovethe sole 120 a may include traction pads 270 a, 270 b defining treadsurfaces 272 a and 272 b, respectively. The tread surfaces 272 a-c mayinclude one or more patterns or features to improve the traction of theshoe 100 a. In some cases, the tread surfaces 272 a-c includeindentations and/or protrusions that define the patterns or features forimproving traction.

In various embodiments, the sole 120 a may be formed of any suitablematerial or combination of materials, including polyamides,polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane (e.g., thermoplasticpolyurethane), and polyols. In some cases, the sole 120 a is formed atleast partially from a natural material, such as castor bean oil. Asnoted above, using bio-based materials may provide environmentalbenefits, including reduced emissions and ecological sustainability. Thetraction pads 270 a, 270 b may be formed of any suitable material orcombination of materials, such as polyamides, polyethylene,polypropylene, polyurethane (e.g., thermoplastic polyurethane), polyols,natural and synthetic rubbers, and the like. In some cases, the tractionpads 270 a, 270 b may be formed from bio-based material(s).

As noted above, in some cases, one or more regions of an interiorsurface of the shoe 100 a may have different textile properties thanregions of the exterior surface and/or other regions of the interiorsurface. FIG. 3 illustrates the example shoe 100 a and shows part of theinterior surface 252 of the upper portion 110 a, which may be brushed orotherwise treated to soften the interior surface. In some cases, variousregions of the upper portion 110 a may have different textilecharacteristics on an exterior surface than on an interior surface. Forexample, the tactile feel may be softer on the interior surface 252 thanon an exterior surface at the same location of the upper portion 110 a.The interior surface 252 may provide advantages including improving thecomfort of the shoe to a wearer, including a wearer wearing the shoe 100a without a sock. The different textile characteristics of the interiorsurface 252 may be achieved by processing the textile (e.g., brushing orflocking) differently on each surface and/or using different materialsat the different surfaces.

In some cases, different regions of the interior surface 252 may havedifferent textile characteristics, including tactile feel, waterresistance, moisture wicking, and odor resistance. FIG. 3 illustratesdifferent regions 352 a and 352 b of the interior surface 252.

The region 352 a may extend around a wearer's heel. The region 352 b mayextend around other parts of the wearer's foot. In various embodiments,the region 352 a of the interior surface of the upper portion 110 may besubject to more abrasion and other damage than the region 352 b due toits location near the back of the shoe 100 a. For example, the region352 a may be rubbed while a wearer puts on or takes off the shoe 100 a.Similarly, the region 352 a may be rubbed by the wearer's heel while theshoe 100 b is worn. In some cases, the shoe 100 may include a heellining 354 that is attached to the upper portion 110 along the interiorsurface 252 in the region 352 a. The heel lining 354 may reduce wear ofthe upper portion 110 a and/or provide friction to retain the wearer'sfoot in the shoe 100 a during wear.

In some cases, the heel lining 354 is part of the upper portion 110 aand has different textile properties to achieve the desired performance,including durability. In some cases, the heel lining 354 is a separatecomponent that is attached to the upper portion 110 a. For example, theheel lining 354 may be formed from a wear-resistant material (e.g.,wool, polyester, or the like) that is attached (e.g., sewn or glued)onto the interior surface 352 of the upper portion 110 a. In some cases,the heel lining is brushed, flocked, or otherwise processed, similar tothe interior surface 352. The heel lining 354 may have higher abrasivestrength or other improved textile characteristics compared to the upperportion 110 a. In some cases, the heel lining 354 covers the portion ofthe seam 280 on the interior surface 352 of the upper portion 110 a toimprove the comfort of the shoe. For example, the heel lining 354 mayprevent the seam 280 from rubbing or otherwise irritating the wearer'sfoot, including a wearer wearing the shoe 100 a without a sock. In somecases, the shoe 100 a may include heel padding (e.g., a foam padding),for example between the heel lining 354 and the upper portion 110 a toimprove the comfort of the shoe.

As noted above, in some cases, the interior surface 252 may be processed(e.g., brushed, flocked, or the like) to achieve different textilecharacteristics than an exterior surface of the upper portion 110 a. Insome cases, one or more regions of the interior surface 252 are brushedto soften the tactile feel of the regions. For example, the region 352 aof the interior surface 252 may be brushed to soften the tactile feel ofthe region 352 a, for example to improve the comfort of a foot in theshoe 100 a. Additionally or alternatively, the region 352 b may bebrushed. In some cases, the regions the region 352 b is not brushed, forexample if a separate heel lining 354 is installed in the region 352 b.Additionally or alternatively, one or more regions of the exteriorsurface of the upper portion 110 a may be brushed. In some cases, theexterior surface of the upper portion 110 a is not brushed.

In some cases, the textile characteristics of one or more regions of theinterior surface may extend around a top of the upper portion 110 a andto the exterior surface of the upper portion. For example, a region 356around the opening 170 a to the cavity 160 a may include the same orsimilar textile characteristics as the regions 352 a and/or 352 b.

The tongue 130 a may include a wear region 330 that is more prone toabrasion and other damage than other areas of the tongue 130. In somecases, the wear region 330 may be a part of the tongue 130 havingdifferent textile characteristics than other areas of the tongue,similar to the reinforcement regions 310 discussed above. In some cases,the wear region 330 of the tongue 130 may include a separate componentthat is attached to the tongue 130. For example, the wear region 330 maybe formed from a wear-resistant material (e.g., wool, polyester, or thelike) that is attached (e.g., sewn or glued) to the tongue 130. In somecases, separate component may be attached to an exterior surface and aninterior surface of the tongue 130. The wear region 330 may have higherabrasive strength or other improved textile characteristics compared tothe tongue 130.

As discussed above, the shoe 100 a may include eyelets 140 a andshoelaces 150 a passing through the eyelets to retain the shoe 100 a tothe wearer's foot. Each eyelet 140 a may define an opening through whicha shoelace 150 a may extend. In some cases, the upper portion 110 aincludes a gap 210 over the tongue 130 a. The tongue 130 a may beconfigured to be positioned at least partially in the gap 210. As shownin FIG. 2B, a first set of eyelets 140 a may be positioned on a firstside of the gap 210 and a second set of eyelets 140 a may be positionedon a second side of the gap 210. The gap 210 may allow the upper portion110 a to contract or expand to achieve a better fit around a wearer'sfoot. The shoelace 150 a may extend across the gap 210 and may becoupled to the upper portion 110 a by passing through one or moreeyelets 140 a on either side of the gap. As a result, tightening theshoelace 150 a may draw the opposing eyelets 140 a toward each other,thereby reducing a width of the gap 210 and tightening the upper portion110 a. Similarly, loosening the shoelace 150 a may draw the opposingeyelets 140 a away from each other, thereby increasing a width of thegap 210 and tightening the upper portion 110 a.

In various embodiments, each of the eyelets 140 a may be positioned inan opening extending through the upper portion 110 a. In some cases, theeyelets 140 a include stitches around holes through the upper portion110 a. Additionally or alternatively, the eyelets 140 a may include oneor more components that define holes through the upper portion 110 a.The eyelets 140 a may be formed using any suitable material orcombination of materials, including, but not limited to, polyamides,polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane (e.g., thermoplasticpolyurethane), and polyols. In some cases, the eyelets 140 a may beformed at least partially from bio-based materials, includingplant-based polymers, natural oil polyols, and the like. In some cases,the eyelets 140 a may include a bio-based plastic made using corn sugar.As noted above, using bio-based materials may provide environmentalbenefits, including reduced emissions and ecological sustainability.

As noted above, the shoelace 150 a may extend through the eyelets 140 ato secure the shoe 100 a to a wearer's foot. In some cases, the shoelace150 a includes a tubular outer portion and an inner fill. The shoelace150 a may be formed using any suitable material or combination ofmaterials, including polyester, nylon, cotton, and the like. In somecases, the outer portion and/or the inner fill are formed from recycledmaterials, such as recycled polyester from plastic bottles. As notedabove, using recycled materials instead of new materials reduces wastesent to landfills and incinerators and conserves natural resources,prevents pollution, and saves energy related to the collection andprocessing of new raw materials. In some cases, the shoelace 150 aincludes a coating for water resistance, stain resistance, durability,and the like, similar to the coatings applied to the upper portion 110a.

In some cases, the shoelace 150 a includes a dome-tipped aglet at eachend. The dome-tipped aglet may be formed from a thermoplastic material(e.g., thermoplastic polyurethane). The thermoplastic material mayinclude a bio-based material, such as a polyol derived from corn sugar.In some cases, bio-based materials may make up 20% or more of thethermoplastic material.

As noted above, many embodiments described herein reference a shoehaving water-resistant membranes. It may be appreciated, however, thatthis is merely one example; other configurations, implementations, andconstructions are contemplated in view of the various principles andmethods of operations—and reasonable alternatives thereto—described inreference to the embodiments described above.

One may appreciate that although many embodiments are disclosed above,that the operations and steps presented with respect to methods andtechniques described herein are meant as exemplary and accordingly arenot exhaustive. One may further appreciate that alternate step order orfewer or additional operations may be required or desired for particularembodiments.

Although the disclosure above is described in terms of various exemplaryembodiments and implementations, it should be understood that thevarious features, aspects and functionality described in one or more ofthe individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to theparticular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can beapplied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of theembodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed and whether or not such features are presented as being a partof a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the presentinvention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments but is instead defined by the claims herein presented.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe, comprising: a sole defining a tread surface and a top surface opposite the tread surface; and an upper portion attached to the top surface of the sole and comprising: an outer textile layer comprising wool; an inner textile layer comprising wool; a first water-resistant membrane positioned between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer and extending from a lower perimeter of the upper portion to a first boundary a first distance from the lower perimeter; and a second water-resistant membrane positioned between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer and extending from the lower perimeter of the upper portion to a second boundary a second distance greater than the first distance from the lower perimeter.
 2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein: the outer textile layer defines at least part of an exterior surface of the upper portion and comprises a durable water repellant coating disposed on the exterior surface; the first water-resistant membrane comprises bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane; and the second water-resistant membrane comprises bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane.
 3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the durable water repellant coating is not disposed on a second surface of the outer textile layer opposite the exterior surface.
 4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein: the outer textile layer is formed from a first single piece of textile that extends along an entirety of the upper portion; and the inner textile layer defines at least part of an interior surface of the upper portion and is formed from a second single piece of textile that extends along the entirety of the upper portion.
 5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein: the first water-resistant membrane has a first thickness; and the second water-resistant membrane has a second thickness greater than the first thickness.
 6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein: the shoe further comprises an eyelet configured to receive a shoelace; and the second distance is substantially equal to a third distance between the eyelet and a surface when the tread surface is placed on the surface.
 7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises first and second traction pads defining at least a portion of the tread surface.
 8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a bio-based material.
 9. A shoe, comprising: an upper portion defining a gap and comprising: a first membrane region comprising a first water-resistant membrane positioned between an outer textile layer and an inner textile layer; and a second membrane region comprising a second water-resistant membrane positioned between the outer textile layer and the inner textile layer; and a tongue comprising a third water-resistant membrane and configured to be positioned at least partially in the gap defined by the upper portion.
 10. The shoe of claim 9, wherein at least part of the first membrane region overlaps the second membrane region.
 11. The shoe of claim 9, wherein the first water-resistant membrane and the second water-resistant membrane comprise bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane.
 12. The shoe of claim 9, wherein: the shoe further comprises a sole attached to the upper portion; and the first membrane region and the second membrane region extend across a seam between the upper portion and the sole.
 13. The shoe of claim 9, wherein: the upper portion further defines an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; and a first region of the interior surface is brushed to soften the first region.
 14. The shoe of claim 13, wherein the shoe further comprises a heel lining attached to the upper portion and positioned along a second region of the interior surface.
 15. The shoe of claim 9, wherein: the upper portion defines a cavity configured to receive a foot of a wearer; and the shoe further comprises an insole positioned within the cavity and defining a top surface configured to contact a bottom of the foot.
 16. The shoe of claim 9, wherein: the shoe further comprises: an eyelet attached to the upper portion; and a shoelace extending through the eyelet; and the first membrane region extends from a lower perimeter of the upper portion to the eyelet.
 17. An upper portion for a shoe, comprising: a first membrane region comprising: a first part of an outer textile layer, the outer textile layer; a first part of an inner textile layer; and a first water-resistant membrane comprising bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane and positioned between the first part of the outer textile layer and the first part of the inner textile layer; and a second membrane region adjacent to the first membrane region and comprising: a second part of the outer textile layer; a second part of the inner textile layer; and a second water-resistant membrane comprising bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane and positioned between the second part of the outer textile layer and the second part of the inner textile layer; wherein: the outer textile layer is knit as a single, unitary piece comprising wool; and at least a part of the first membrane region overlaps the second membrane region.
 18. The upper portion of claim 17, wherein: the outer textile layer defines an exterior surface of the upper portion; and the inner textile layer defines an interior surface of the upper portion opposite the exterior surface.
 19. The upper portion of claim 18, further comprising a durable water repellant coating disposed on the exterior surface of the upper portion.
 20. The upper portion of claim 17, wherein a thickness of the first water-resistant membrane is greater than a thickness of the second water-resistant membrane. 